Re: you gotta be *****n kidding me right?
FWIW, I've had a couple of the older Fender Japan 72 Tele Customs that sold in the US and played a couple of the newer ones that aren't meant to hit our shores while overseas. Just for the sake of comparisons (I know that's not the model in question), the older ones were nice but nothing special, while the newer ones were just amazing. Better finish, better wood, smoother pots, etc. I don't know what's up with the big quality change, but I bet that one in the auction would make one hell of a Pepsi Challenge with a good USA, all other things equal.